SEPTIC TANK.
A septic tank cures waste material through anaerobic respiration to eradicate he foul smell.
Septic tanks are not waste storage devices. They are designed to hold the waste for a very short time [1 day]. After this, the waste goes to the soak pit for storage and onward sipping into the surrounding ground.
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| From landscaping nairobi |
The early colonial settlers who constructed large mansions around Nairobi and other areas such as Nakuru made very small septic tanks usually 1 meter wide and 3 meters long with each chamber approximately 1 meter long.
With the onset of Kenya becoming a republic in 1963, the Local Government ministry was empowered with regulating the building industry through the building code enforced by the Councils.
The councils insist that a copy of the septic tank drawing must be accompanied by the architectural drawings while submitting drawings for approval.
This has necessitated for duplication of the available septic tank drawings which are usually large in size.
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| From landscaping nairobi |
CIVIL ENGINEERS
Civil Engineers are the ones who design septic tanks. Since Civil Engineers are scarce and rare, this necessitates more and more duplication of the existing large septic tank drawings.
COST OF CONSTRUCTION
The cost of construction in Kenya is higher than in other African countries due to such lack of consultation of architects and engineers.
If architects and engineers are involved in even the small residential type of houses, such duplication of mistakes can be seen and corrected before construction hence saving the house owner hundreds of thousands of shillings in the process.
This duplication and copying of house designs in Kenya kills creativity and causes the house owners to lose thousands and even millions of shillings in unnecessary construction costs.
THE DIAMOND HOUSE PLAN
The Diamond House plan designed by www.a4architect.com has been designed specifically to reduce costs of construction of every single element within the totality of the building. Foundations are designed to reduce over 500%, walling reduces 80% ,roofing reduces 300% and finishes including doors and windows and septic tank reduce a further 90% of construction cost. See the house here https://www.a4architect.com/house-plans/
CONCLUSION
Solutions to reduction of construction costs are here with us if we decide to consult the relevant professionals in this.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
Architect.
www.a4architect.com
+254721410684
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